Identity: From “Me-cro” to Macro
Identity = our sense of who we are as individuals and in relation to social groups we may or may not belong too. It also refers to our sense of how others may perceive and label us.
Each individual has a unique identity that defines them and that they can self-define. Everytime you describe yourself, you create that definition. For example, “I am a daughter, an American, a Hipsanic person, an athlete, a student etc.”
Identities can be as specific as a role or hobby, and as general as your race, nationality or religion. Many people can hold similar identities, which moves them from the level of individuals “me”-cro (Erika, Mei, Indeku) to the collective level (women, people of color, Italians/Russians/Japanese, East Coasters etc.). There are also intermediary groups in between the “me-cro” and “macro” levels.
Collective identity usually affects how we see ourselves and how others see us. For example, in Bali, you will be volunteering as a foreigner, and someone meeting you for the first time may see you from the outside and make assumptions based on that.
Similarly, you may have assumptions about Balinese people or South East Asian identities more generally.
Reflection 3:
– What might those be?
– What are they based on / where do they come from?